Shimla, July 13 -- Acting on the orders of the Himachal Pradesh High Court, the Forest Department on Saturday launched a crackdown on illegal encroachments over forest land in Kotkhai's Chaithla village, felling apple trees planted by encroachers, an official statement said.

The operation was conducted under a heavy security deployment.

Further, as per the statement, the action, aimed at reclaiming forest land from unauthorised apple cultivation, was carried out in the presence of SDM Kotkhai, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Thiyog, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Thiyog, and the local Tehsildar. Police personnel were deployed to maintain law and order during the eviction.

According to officials, the apple trees had been illegall...